Swiss police believe around ​40 people ​died and 100 others ⁠injured in ‌a fire ​during a New ‌Year's Eve party in the resort ‍town of Crans-Montana, the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a ‍statement on Thursday. 

The fire broke out at 1:30 a.m. local time in a bar called "Le Constellation," police said in a statement.

More than 100 people were inside the bar at the time of the explosion, according to Swiss media SRF, citing police. 

The ⁠victims could not be ​immediately identified because of the severity of their ‌burns, the ministry added. 

Authorities currently do not believe the blaze was caused by arson.

Emergency responders remain on the scene as the investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.

(With input from agencies)